SBDC

Business Management

Human Resources

Leadership

Dale Carnegie

Sales & Marketing

Customer Service

Education

SBDC

Smart Start: Starting a New Business
Do you have a business idea or looking to purchase a business? This workshop will guide you through what you need to know to launch your business and be successful. Hear from a local entrepreneur about how they started their business and lessons learned along the way. Learn how to create a business plan, conduct market research and estimate costs, prepare for a bank loan, legally organize the business and other license/permit requirements, record keeping and taxes, marketing ideas, and what financing options are available. Receive a business plan template, step-by-step guide to opening your business, and other resources available to help you succeed! Class sponsored by America's SBDC Iowa.

Business Management

Business Bookkeeping Certificate
This Certificate is designed for those who want to become a bookkeeper or for small business owners who would like to understand bookkeeping better. Increase your skills in payroll, Quickbooks, Excel, and tax knowledge to enable you to perform bookkeeping accurately and efficiently. Classes include: Word Basics, Accounting Basics, Payroll Accounting, Excel Basics, Excel Intermediate, QuickBooks Online, Understand Your Business Taxes.

Accounting Basic Concepts
Designed for the non-accountant bookkeeper, office manager or owner of a business. Learn basic accounting terms including revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities. Learn to build and read the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. Become familiar with accounting debits and credits as you learn how to record transactions in this hands-on course. This course is approved for the Business Bookkeeping Certificate.

Payroll Accounting
It's a fact of business—if a company has employees, it has to account for payroll, fringe benefits, and payroll taxes. This comprehensive course will guide you through processing a new employee, calculating payroll and payroll taxes, payroll tax reporting, and periodic and year end payroll reporting to the government. This course is approved for the Business Bookkeeping Certificate.

QuickBooks Online® - Software Comprehensive
If you subscribe to QuickBooks Online®, this hands-on training seminar is for you! Learn how to set up a company, customer and vendor files, and a chart of accounts. Learn how to manage money coming in and money going out, including sales, invoicing, paying bills, and tracking expenses. You’ll learn how to reconcile accounts, use inventory and payroll, and use reports to understand your business, including profitability and sales trends. Bring your questions. Book, materials, and light lunch included. Basic computer knowledge is required. This course is approved for the Business Bookkeeping Certificate.

Understand Your Business Taxes
Income tax, sales tax, payroll tax, and the list goes on for taxes your business pays. Discussion will center on the various business taxes, forms and ways to file and pay the taxes, and things you can do in your record keeping system to better understand and lessen your tax burden. Participants will receive all materials and are encouraged to bring specific questions. This course is approved for the Business Bookkeeping Certificate.

ServSafe Food Handler
This class is a hybrid with both in-person and virtual training. The class will go through curriculum and be followed by the online exam to be certified with the National Restaurant Association ServSafe Food Handler certificate.

Fundamentals of Technical Writing
Learn how to translate complex information into easily understood language and how to become a wizard at marrying the art of publishing with the science of technology. Learn the secrets of successful technical writers including technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing and formatting techniques, key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and how to publish documents both on paper and electronically. To register https://www.ed2go.com/secc/

GRE Preparation: Part 1
If you're planning to apply to graduate school, you'll likely have to take the GRE. Part 1 takes you through all the question types on the verbal reasoning and analytical writing sections, including reading comprehension, text completion, sentence equivalence questions, and both essay tasks. You'll also gain pointers on time management, anxiety relief, scoring, and general standardized test-taking.

Certificate in Data Analysis
Data Analysis is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after skills in the workplace. Add a whole new skill set to your portfolio, and make a big difference in the success of your organization by acquiring data analysis skills. Begin with getting a basic understanding of how to analyze data in a business setting. You will know the statistics behind these group differences and relationships. Finally you will find out how to perform inquiries that will be useful to your business or organization, and have the skill necessary to communicate these results through graphs and text that your fellow employees will understand. Classes include Introduction to Data Analysis, Intermediate Data Anylysis, and Advanced Data Analysis. There are various start dates for asynchronous instructor led classes.

Project Management Professional (PMP) Prep Series
Learn how to prepare for the Project Management Institute's prestigious PMP® certification exam. Master 'A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), 6th edition'--the essential resource for the PMP® certification exam. This will consist of two online courses PMP Certification Prep 1, which focuses on relationships between inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs. The second course will be PMP Certification Prep 2 which will continue to build upon Prep 1 and focus on understaning such topics as earned value management, risk management, simulation, sensitivity anlaysis, and make-or-buy analysis.

A to Z Grant Writing
You'll learn how to raise needed funds by discovering how and where to look for potential funders who are a good match for your organization. You'll also learn how to network and develop true partnerships with a variety of funders, how to organize a successful grant writing campaign, and how to put together a complete proposal package.

New Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant
Good grant writing consultants are always in demand. Learn how you can use a basic knowledge of grant or proposal writing to become an expert in the red-hot grant consulting field. The course will provide you with easy-to-follow instructions that you can use to start your own home-based business. You'll learn what services to offer, how to find clients, and how to set your fees. This is one field where your creative writing skills can literally touch thousands of people and make a true difference in their quality of life.

Human Resources

New SHRM Certification Prep Information Session
Free information session to learn about the SHRM Certification Test Prep Course.

SHRM Certification Prep
Commit to Your Career. HR professionals like you are facing new and larger challenges each day due in part to a changing workforce, shifting legislation and regulations and so much more. Ensure you’re prepared for these changes, and anything else thrown your way with SHRM’s global HR credentials, SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP. Unlike memorization-based certification credentials, SHRM certification measures an HR professional’s most critical skill: the ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations. No other exam compares. By becoming SHRM certified, you prove your knowledge, competency and value to colleagues and to employers looking for a competitive edge in today’s global economy. Wherever your career takes you, your SHRM certification will define you as an HR expert and leader. Network and collaborate with peers to share real-life examples and bring HR knowledge and competencies to life. The tuition includes the cost of instruction and the SHRM learning system (online and printed material), a $1075 value. This course is provided through a partnership with North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC).

SHRM Essentials of HR
Sharpen Your HR Skills to Face Today's Hr Issues SHRM, the leading global HR professional organization, has developed the SHRM Essentials of Human Resources course, which teaches the HR knowledge, skills and competencies required for overall business success. Whether you are new to HR, or it’s one of the many roles you fulfill at your company. In less than 20 hours of training time, you can cover the issues you need to reduce potentially costly lawsuits. The straightforward format ensures that HR concepts can be mastered and applied to real-life situations. This course is in partnership with North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC).

New Employment Law Basics for Supervisors
A general overview of basic employment law and compliance issues that provide the foundational framework for a supervisor. A grasp of employment law will help avoid legal pitfalls while helping create and sustain a welcoming and equitable environment. Topics include: Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

New Diverse Workforce: Creating an Inclusive Environment
Attracting and retaining a diverse workforce doesn’t end with recruiting. It begins with recruiting. It requires creating and sustaining a welcoming and inclusive environment that creates a sense of belonging and engages all employees. This dynamic and engaging session will provide employers with the tools and ideas necessary to grow and strengthen their company through diversity. It will include an overview of the business case for diversity, recruiting and onboarding for a diverse workforce, recognizing and avoiding bias, and proper training of supervisors. Understanding culture issues and creating and sustaining a welcoming environment.

Human Resource Strategy & Risk
Today's HR leader needs further insight into business strategy, the competitive environment, and assessing risk. This session will look at alignment and risk from an HR perspective. Learn more about contributing as business leader, making decisions that support the company direction while coaching others on daily decisions and risks.

Human Resource Retention Strategies
Retention now is priority 1. With tremendous recruitment challenges, we have to increase our retention efforts in ways that matter. Learn from the latest research, best practices, and models to shape your retention strategies. Identify ways to maximize your efforts even when resources are limited. Make a stronger pitch to senior leaders about efforts, initiatives, and impact.

Human Resource Employee Mental Health, Well-Being and Burnout Recovery
HR Employee Mental Health, Well-Being and Burnout Recovery The toll of stress and burnout is very real. Join us for information and discussion around HR's impact for creating psychological safety and a mentally healthy workplace. Practice new tools to coach others to persist and recover from burnout. Renew your own strength and energy to continue to watch out and care for others.

Understanding the Human Resources Function
No matter what role you play in an organization, you are all affected by human resources. This course is designed to help people without experience in human resources to understand this very vital link in the organizational chain. It will prepare both managers and business owners to handle basic human resource functions in a way that will ensure the best possible result. In particular, attention is given to the hiring process, including ways to locate quality employees in a competitive labor market. Employee rights and the legal side of the human resource field are also covered.

Leadership

Buddy to Boss
One day, they are your co-workers and buddies – the people you socialize and take coffee breaks with. Now, you’re their boss. Suddenly, you find yourself questioning what you should and shouldn’t say to your former co-workers. Your job is now about them and no longer all about you. The challenge is not only in taking on the demands of a new, elevated role and the skills and knowledge required, but it is also in making the emotional and mental transition to that of manager.

New Being a Dynamic Contributor
Do you know how to perform? What does successful performance look like in your organization? Do the people in your company understand how to “hit the ball out of the park?” Do they know how to deliver on their priorities? Do they understand how to stand out, how to bring their core talents, strengths, and skills into their work? What if the people of your organization were more engaged?

New The Healthy Workplace
What makes a workplace healthy? Does it just mean that we work in a place where the employee breakroom refrigerator is free from mold and stench? Could it mean that the way that people feel when they come to work and engage in their objectives could be inspiring, meaningful and free from the distraction of unhealthy relationships and demeaning responsibilities? What if we knew how to drive out toxicity and drama? How could people perform if they were held accountable in ways that inspire people to get better every day?

New Accountability in the Workplace
Every great performer whether in business, sports or otherwise, has to develop the trait that they hold themselves accountable for their performance. Even more, they need to desire feedback and insight from their leader or coach that will enhance their performance. Accountability is positive and it should be seen in such a way that develops people and encourages great performers. Accountability is often times looked at as a punitive or negative experience. It is that way because that is the way that most leaders and organizations use it. It should be the opposite. We all get better when we see our performance pluses and minuses and acquire the ability to navigate our daily work around that information. In this session, participants will learn more about how to provide productive accountability conversations and tactics!

New Use Your Muscle - Putting Your Strengths, Gifts, and Talents to Work
What if you could do more and be more? If you knew you could be more fulfilled in how and what you get done, feeling strong and complete, what would change? What if you could work using only your strengths, gifts and talents? And why in the world would you invest any significant amount of time into your areas of weakness? Isn’t that what conventional wisdom tells us to do? Well, yes, it is! Doesn’t it make the most sense to go where the strength is? If you want to perform, feel more joy and get better results more often, go where the strengths live. Students must take the Gallup Strengthfinder assessment prior to class.

New Strategic Doing
This class enables people to form action-oriented collaborations quickly, move them toward measurable outcomes, and make adjustments along the way. It yields replicable, scalable, and sustainable collaborations based on simple rules. In the workshop we will create strategic doing plans for your team identifying goals, guideposts, resources and action items. Come ready to take action with your team in creating a compelling future for your organization.

Supervision Certificate
Leader, manager, supervisor, team leader – no matter what your official title, you’re expected to get the job done through others. This course provides new and experienced supervisors with the tools and skills for building personal confidence in their leadership role. You will see the relevance of the training, rapidly acquire the skills, and quickly put them to use on the job. Attend all twelve modules and earn a certificate in Supervision. Our program is designed for anyone who manages people in manufacturing, retail, or service industries.

Supervision Survival Skills
This training program is designed for new managers and non-managers interested in or identified for promotion. Knowledge gained in this program will enable you to avoid some of the hard lessons that come from on-the-job learning. Applicable in manufacturing, service, and retail organizations, this seminar presents the fundamental leadership and communication skills and techniques required to manage employees effectively. Content of this training covers the first two modules of the Supervision Certificate.

New Resiliency and Reframing for Leaders
COVID-19 and its accompanying changes to our lives has created so much uncertainty for our employees, friends and families. We are all experiencing heightened levels of stress and potentially, increased anxiety, depression and loneliness. It is essential that we share strategies to manage these brain health challenges, including positive reframing, developing resiliency and setting realistic expectations of ourselves and others during this traumatic experience. In this webinar, participants will: Learn habits of emotionally resilient leaders; Create personal strategies to build resiliency in themselves and other; Implement mindfulness apps and techniques to reduce stress

New Mental Health and Empathetic Listening
We are experiencing an international health crisis, people are scared. The SOP’s of many businesses are changing quickly and even drastically. Colleagues may be feeling a loss of control and are looking to others to acknowledge and support them during these major changes. Learn the difference between empathy and sympathy. Understand the emotional stages people are experiencing by discussing the grief cycle. Develop techniques to acknowledge people’s fears and respond with effective phrases the reassure staff. Discover how to practice steps of crisis intervention including creating awareness, providing support, providing psychological safety and moving towards acceptance.

New Reducing Stigma: Employee Mental Health
Many employees are juggling health concerns and increased anxiety combined with their jobs and families, leaving them at risk for stress, loneliness, burnout, isolation, and depression. Educators must support people with mental health now, more than ever. And recognize the signs of fatigue in ourselves. In this webinar learners will: Discuss symptoms of compassion fatigue syndro; Develop dialogue that builds trust, shows support and avoid awkward conversations surrounding mental/brain health; Practice using trauma informed language to increase trust in each other.

New Adapting to Change without Disengaging
The world and life have been changing rapidly because of COVID. The manner in which communicate expectations and implementation of change significantly influences how our teams respond. During this webinar, we will work with you to develop an effective, proactive change strategy, discover appropriate ways to react to an unplanned change, and minimize the potential of negative reactions we experience due to uncertainty. During this class you will: Identify normal reactions to chag Define the change curve and how emotions can be attached to each stage; Employ new techniques to build relationships with customers (both internal and external); Discover how best to help yourself and colleagues through change

Fostering Diversity in the Workplace
Learn how people from different backgrounds and experiences contribute to the richness and the competitive edge of any organization. Explore ways to create an atmosphere of inclusion, understanding, and appreciation for individuals who will enhance creativity, collaboration, and increase overall team performance. This course is approved for the Effective Management Certificate.

Behavioral Interviewing
Hiring the right person for the right job requires behavioral, objective, and fact-based criteria to be part of your hiring process. You will learn how to construct a thorough list of job requirements and how to ask questions to reveal past experiences and interpret behavior. Finally, you will learn the importance of prompt and fair follow-up in order to build a successful team. This course is approved for the Effective Management Certificate.

Leading High Performance Teams
Transform your team into a high performing one. Learn the basics of team dynamics, the stages of team formation, and how to utilize individual strengths to bring out the best in all team members. Learn about your own leadership style and explore its impact on team performance. This course is approved for the Effective Management Certificate.

How Millennials and Gen Z Affect the Culture of Work
No matter what generation you are part of, come increase your perspective about how age influences our motivation, communication and work practices. We will focus on key actions we can take to attract, coach, engage and retain employees across the generations. We will engage in discussion and activities to help understand Millennial's and Gen Z's unique perspective and what actions leaders can take to build even stronger teams. This course is approved for the Effective Management Certificate

Handling Conflict
One of the most difficult and most avoided topics in every company and relationship is that of conflict. We all learn from our past in how we handle conflict with others. Some of us have great examples and others, not so much. Everyone experiences some degree of workplace conflict; therefore, we all deserve training on how to handle it most effectively, focusing on great results and best teaming relationships. You will focus on conflict dos and don’ts. Pay close attention to a conflict roadmap that will allow a productive strategy for encouraging and following through with healthy conflict. We will take a closer look at each individual’s natural conflict style to increase awareness and become better able to effectively navigate more effective conflict situations. This course is approved for the Effective Management Certificate.

Leading Change in the Workplace
When faced with change, you have one of three choices…lead, follow or get out of the way. Choose to lead! This course will help managers deal with change in the workplace – both personally and as a leader of their team. Topics include understanding both positive and negative effects of change, learning personal response to change, helping to lead employees through change, seeing change as an opportunity, and communication during change. This course is approved for the Effective Management Certificate.

Dale Carnegie

New Valuing Diversity
• Examine the business case for prioritizing diversity • Review recent research on the current state of diversity in business • Identify opportunities to improve involvement and cooperation

New Finding Common Ground
• Become aware of and better understand our unconscious biases
• Apply proven techniques to create genuine inclusiveness that can sustain diversity
• Practice using strategies to achieve inclusiveness in teams and organizations

New Communicate with Dipolmacy and Tact
• Respond to difficult situations in a confident, diplomatic, and tactful way
• Give and receive feedback without eliciting negative emotions
• Apply mediation techniques to find common ground among opposing

New Disagree Agreeably
• Identify personal hot buttons and our role in disagreements
• Give others the benefit of the doubt and cushion opinions for greater acceptance
• Apply a formula for contributing ideas and disagreeing in an agreeable way

Sales & Marketing

New Designer Toolkit - Intro to using your Adobe Creative Suite
This 3 part class will provide an overview of the tools in Adobe Photoshop, and InDesign. Students will learn tips for marketing, printing & formatting content for digital & print use. Photoshop: Learn to crop, use healing tool on blemishes, use the masking tool, edit file and resolution size, plus learn to create and organize folders within.  InDesign: Learn how to change sizes of invitations or newsletters and setup for full page printing. Students will also learn hos to use some of the "corners" and "shading" tools. How to add art, resize/crop art, spell check, use paragraph and character styles and check for missing text. Mac computer experience preferred but not required.

New Facebook Advertising for Business
Still think Facebook is a fad? Advertisers of all shapes and sizes are finding ways to leverage the social media giant's 1.2 billion users. You know you don't need to reach everyone on Facebook, but engaging even a teeny-tiny fraction of users who live in your corner of the world could do a lot for your business. Learn how to use Facebook's advertising tools to reach, engage and motivate your customers. Also learn tips on what to say, how to say it, and when to say it.

New Videography and Video Editing for Business
Created for business owners who are interested in using the medium of video to build a wider customer base, this class will cover the entire video production process. Starting with planning, moving onto basic camerawork principles and techniques, and finishing with editing with the industry standard software Adobe Premiere, this class will equip you with the tools you need to produce professional quality commercials for your business.

Creating WordPress Websites
Learn how to create attractive, sophisticated blogs and websites—without any coding! WordPress is the world's most popular website publisher, powering more than 25% of all sites on the Internet. Find out how to use WordPress to create pages and posts, add images and videos, change a site's look and feel, and include user-friendly features.

HTML and CSS Series
Introduction to CSS3 and HTML5 - Learn how to create state-of-the-art Web sites using modern CSS3 and HTML5 techniques. Take your existing HTML skills to the next level and start building sites like the pros. If you want to survive and excel in the fast-paced world of Web publishing, you're going to need to keep up with ever-evolving standards. The new standard for Web developers is to use CSS3 and HTML5.

Digital Marketing Suite
Marketing Your Business on the Internet - Find out how to market your business on the Internet, even if you have little or no money to spend! In this practical, hands-on course, you'll discover proven methods that will help you establish an Internet presence and build an online brand identity. You'll learn how search engine optimization (SEO) works and how to track your site's performance using Web analytics. You'll understand how to use online advertising, email marketing, and social media (including blogs) to drive business to your Web site. Finally, you'll learn how to keep your visitors coming back again and again!

Using Social Media in Business
One of the biggest challenges for business owners is finding new customers. Over the past decade, some business owners have leveraged social media to do just that. Whether you're a social media novice or a seasoned veteran, this course will give you a solid foundation in social media marketing and using it to grow your business. In today's globally connected environment, social media is a game changer for businesses.

Achieving Top Search Engine Positions
The vast majority of Web traffic comes from search engines. That means the most important thing you can do to increase your website's traffic is to improve its search engine ranking. To do that, you have to understand both the art and science of search engine optimization (SEO). In this course, you'll gain the knowledge you need to boost your website's visibility. By the end of the course, you'll have mastered proven, step-by-step SEO strategies that you can implement right away.

Customer Service

Customer Service that Shines
We are a service driven industry, however, many elements of customer service are missing in today's businesses. Explore the best practices in today's market to build relationships and keep your customers engaged in your business. This workshop teaches the importance of internal and external customers and how perception becomes reality.

New Customer Service & Food Safety for Food Servers
This 32 hour in-person course prepares job candidates with the foundational skills to be successful in entry level food service positions. The Restaurant Server training utilizes AHLEI and National Restaurant Association curriculum and features training for new or prospective employees on how to perform key tasks correctly, along with general knowledge and soft skills to succeed as a restaurant server. We will reinforce customer service relationship and conflict resolution skills utilizing 2 modules of Goodwill International’s workforce readiness curriculum. Students who complete the course and pass the exams earn the industry recognized and stackable Certified Restaurant Server and ServSafe Food Handler credentials to present to potential employers. FREE TRAINING FOR IOWA RESIDENTS

Education

Early Childhood Certificate Level I 96 hours
This certificate equips individuals with an operational understanding of both historical and modern approaches to early childhood programs, covering the qualities and skills necessary for working with young children. Health, safety, and nutrition are also discussed as factors which impact the growth and development of children from birth to age eight.

Introduction to Early Childhood Education
This course is an overview of early childhood programs and curricula, historical and present, and an examination of qualities and skills necessary for working with young children. This course is approved for the Early Childhood Certificate Level I

Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition
This course focuses on evidence-based concepts in the fields of health, safety, and nutrition, and their relations to the growth and development of the young child ages birth to eight. The course blends current theory with problem solving, practical applications, and assessments. The course includes collaboration with families and assesses the role of culture, language, and ability on health, safety, and nutrition decisions in early childhood settings. This course is approved for the Early Childhood Certificate Level I

Early Childhood Certificate Level II 96 hours
In this certificate students learn to develop curricula to support the development of each child, implementing evidence-based practices while being mindful of the impact of each child’s family life, culture, language, and abilities.Students also learn to create appropriate learning opportunities, interactions, and environments for children to experience dramatic play, art, music, and fine and gross motor play; ultimately, students will be able to use assessment to analyze and guide children’s behaviors.

Early Childhood Curriculum I
This course focuses on the development, implementation and assessment of appropriate environments and cirricula for young children ages birth, through eight. Students prepare to utilize evidence based practices in a context of children's family, culture, language, and abilities. An emphasis will be placed on understanding children's developmental stages and developing appropriate learning opportunities interactions, and environments to support each child in the following areas: dramatic play, art, music, and fine and gross motor play. This course is approved for the Early Childhood Certificate Level II

Early Childhood Guidance
This course focuses on developmentally appropriate, evidence-based approaches and positive guidance strategies for supporting the development of each child. The course emphasizes supportive interactions and developmentally appropriate environments while using assessment to analyze and guide behaviors. Students will learn the impact of family and each child's culture, language, and ability on child guidance. This course is approved for the Early Childhood Certificate Level II